Someone here from Iran? Working out

yirara
yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
edited November 15 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm going on vacation to Iran in two weeks and I do wonder if it'll be possible/appreciated if I try to at least do a little run every now and then. Wearing a manteau and headscarf might be somewhat inconvenient, but not doing anything for two weeks sounds not cool either. So: anyone reading and has some advice for me?

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    bump. Doesn't seem to be the most represented country here. If nothing else I might just go to a local park and have a look of running there seems to be a good idea.
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    In all seriousness, don't do anything to rock the culture boat. You won't get off because you are a foreigner. I would just walk a lot and do a body weight routine in your room.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    Have you been to Iran? I tried finding some information online, and to be honest I found an article about a female parcours group in Tehran. So lets see...
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    No I haven't but I had a friend who worked on a military base and he said everyone was very careful. Just be careful =)
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    edited April 2015
    Thanks, will keep that in mind.
    Interestingly, military base people say that about all Middle Eastern countries, but the expats there just laugh about them because it's not really true. I've been to pretty much all countries around the Gulf as a tourist or expat, and there was no country where I'd not worked out outside (though Saudi is still missing. I'll get there one day). But of course there aren't many expats in Iran.
  • runner475
    runner475 Posts: 1,236 Member
    @yirara

    1) I read this article sometime back and the woman runner is talking about her experience in 1980s...
    http://www.ksbw.com/news/central-california/monterey/monterey-marathoner-from-iran-posed-as-boy-so-she-could-run/25664332

    2)
    And then there is this article about an American man visiting Tehran inspiring author to run.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/mar/05/iran-perils-of-jogging-tehran

    If I were you I would try reaching the author of 2nd article. Looks like Haleh Anvari is a local and she is a woman.
  • hei_ma_ma
    hei_ma_ma Posts: 61 Member
    edited April 2015
    I went to Iran last year and I did not see anyone jogging. But then I was not looking out for joggers because I was riding my bicycle. I think so long as you are wearing the required hijab you will be fine. Leggings with loose knee-length shorts over with a loose long-sleeved top and a couple of Buffs layered on the head worked out fine for cycling. I also sometimes wore a safari hat with a cape and tucked my ponytail underneath.

    The worst that may happen to you while jogging is people constantly stopping you to say hello, take a photo with you, give you chilled bottles of water, offer you a lift, practice their English, become your Facebook friend, or otherwise welcome you to their country. That's what happened to me! Iranians are wonderful people.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    Though I haven't been to Iran, from what I understand, you might be fairly out of place. If you wanted though, I'm sure you could wear some longer shorts or capris, longer sleeves and a hijab and try it out. You could see if you could get a short time only membership to a gym, perhaps or use hotel facilities (if you are staying in a hotel).

    I'm going to Jordan for a month in June/July and staying with a host family while attending a language program. I'm using that time as an extended recovery period between marathon training seasons (running one May 31 and another in October or November) because I've heard from friends that a gym membership would be expensive, and I don't relish running in longer layers in the summer heat in Amman... and during Ramadan, to top it all off!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    Hey, thanks all! And interesting article, runner!

    Hei_ma_ma, I'm really looking forward to this trip. It's a dream of mine for ages to visit Iran! Mind you, I have very modest sports clothes anyway: long oldfashioned sweat-pants and simple tshirts. There's an old gentleman living around the corner of my gated community who always sits on the street in the evening. First time I passed by my shirt was a bit tight and I got he feeling he didn't really feel at ease when I ran by, but he's even greeting me since I wear a really wide shirt.

    Jordan is a wonderful country, kristinegift! And the people are so friendly, and I don't think you'll be looked at too strangly when working out. Though of course you could not be on the streets with something to drink or eat before sunset. But the evening is better for running anyway, if you're prepared to dodge the traffic and random holes in the roads. One thing I noticed in Aqaba at least: there are shops selling alcohol everywhere. I cannot imagine that in the ME.
  • Talan79
    Talan79 Posts: 782 Member
    I left in 87 as a child and never went back. But from what I know about it there now, you can't really go for a run being covered. Hotel gym?
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    edited April 2015
    Just came back from my vacation. What a beautiful country, and such friendly people! Actually, the women wear clothes I've not seen local women wear in any other country of the region. And they look fit (I say that as a woman!).

    I did do two shortish but fast runs. One around a quiet neighbourhood in Shiraz. Just arrived the same day and thought: what the heck, lets try. Not many people on the street, and those that were didn't mind. Didn't manage to run a lot though as I was very tired and not used to the altitude. Tried another time a few days later in the huge garden of my hotel in Yazd. No problem there, but I started out too fast and again didn't manage to run for too long. But at least I did it.

    I'd also found a park near my hotel in Tehran, but that park really was too crowded for my liking. And I was asked every few meters while walking for a warmup how I was and where I'm from :blush: Didn't work out :wink:
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    Sounds like a great experience! Glad to hear the only problem was people being too friendly :) I hope I can visit some day as well!
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